In seven Tests at the venue the Lancastrian has now taken 49 wickets at an average of 17.34. He helped himself to a 10-wicket haul in the opening Ashes Test, following up his 5-85 in the first innings with 5-73 second time around.

Crucially, he claimed all four wickets to fall on a nerve-jangling final day of the series opener that went right down to the wire.

In the morning session he dismissed Ashton Agar, Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle, all thanks to slip catches by captain Alastair Cook, during a marathon 13-over spell that pushed England to the brink of victory.

Cramp sent him in for an early lunch, and without him the hosts lost their way. Steve Finn replaced him and immediately saw his first over cost 15 runs - Anderson had given away just 21 in his 13.

When the action resumed after the break it was no surprise to see Cook immediately turn back to his talisman. Anderson duly delivered yet again, getting Brad Haddin caught behind to clinch a 14-run victory.

In the post-match presentation Cook heaped praise on the leader of his seam attack, but insisted the hosts were not overly reliant on him, saying it "just happened to be Jimmy's game."

Readers' Comments

I

t's wrong to be making a joke out of Bender's name at the expense of gay people. It's the kind of childish, uncivilised thing that Football365 would deride and ridicule if it was another media outlet saying. Why is there a need for jokes like this? Does it make your writers feel like men? F365 might suggest that I 'lighten up', but it is genuinely traumatic for people who have been oppressed all their lives to be the butt of jokes, and to be told...

ou can't blame De Gea for wanting to leave, he has enough to do in front of goal as it is as well as taking on the role of Man Utd's version of Derek Acorah in trying to contact and organise a defence that isn't there.